Radiant heating and therapeutic chamber



March 6, 1951 J. L. REYNOLDS RADIANT HEATING AND THERAPEUTIC CHAMBER Filed Aug. 10, 1948 a v wen vim [.IPqyzm/dr Jillian Patented Mar. 6, 1951 OFFICE RADIANT HEATING AND THERAPEUTIC CHAMBER Julian Reynolds, Richmond, Va. ApplicationAugust 10, 1948, Serial No. 43,397 j' 1 cla (01. 128-374) This invention relates to therapeutic chambers and particularly those adapted to induce'relatively high temperatures in a living body therein to cause profuse perspiration.

Therapeutic chambers whichinduce high.tem-. peratures are known and commonly consist of a closed chamber having incandescent light bulbs or steam pipes therein to create high temperatures within the chamber. Such heating means as heretofore employed depended upon very high temperatures for their operationand all involved very high temperatures at localized positions within the chamber.

According to the present invention a therapeutic chamber is provided wherein the inner walls comprise sheets of .metal having high heatconducting characteristics. Although any metal such as copper, gold, silver or the like may be employed, it is preferredthat the wall surfaces be made of aluminum sheets since aluminum is readily available in the desired thicknesses, is easy to handle and fabricate,.and possesses the desired electrical and heat-conducting characteristics. The present. invention comprises generally a box-like chamber having closure means for certain of. the walls so thatthe chamber may be opened for a person to enter and thereafter closed. It is also contemplated that the, top of the chamber be hinged and provided with a neck opening whereby a person may sit in the chamber with his or her head projecting out of the chamber at the top.

As stated previously, the inner surfaces of the walls of the chamber are covered with sheet aluminum or the like and suitable heating means provide heat to warm the aluminum sheet. The aluminum sheet will uniformly spread the heat over its entire surface from which it is radiated to the interior of the chamber at a relatively low temperature. The means for heating the walls may comprise electrical resistanceelements or conduits for a fluid heating medium, such as hot air or steam. It is further contemplated that certain opposed walls of the chamber be electrically insulated from eachL other and have a high frequency electrical. potential applied between them to induce internal heatin a body within the chamber. Such a manner ofinducing internal heat in a body constitutes a fever producing system and, although such artificial production of fever has been known, it is believed to be novel to employ it in connection with a radiantly heated therapeutic chamber,

It is an object of this invention to provide a therapeutic chamber in which heat is promula 2 gated by radiation from a uniformly warmed surface at relatively low temperatures.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a therapeutic chamber employing radiant heat to warm the surface of a body therein in conjunction with high frequency heating means to induce artificial fever within the body.

It is another object of this invention to provide a therapeutic chamber in which heat is supplied to a body uniformly from the walls thereof without local hot spots.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a therapeutic chamber that is simple and economical in construction and adapted to function efficiently over long periods of time.

Further objects and advantages will appear to those skilled in the art as the description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a therapeutic chamber constructed according to the present invention, with the closure means therefor shown in open position;

- Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially along the line 2-4 F Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view through a Wall of a modified form of therapeutic chamber showing a different heating means for the radiant panel; and

. Fig. 4 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating the manner of connecting opposed walls of the chamber to a high frequency generator.

The therapeutic chamber of the present inven tion comprises a generally box-like structure, indicated at I, having a floor 2, opposed side walls 3 and 4, a rear wall 5, and a pair of doors 5 constituting the front wall. The top of the chamber comprises a pair of hinged panels, each having at its free edge thereof a generally semicircular cutout portion 8. Therapeutic chambers of this type are usually provided with a stool or seat 2! therein upon which a person may sit while receiving treatments. The dimensions of the chamber are such that a person sitting upon the stool or seat 21 may close the top panels I which will then be at about shoulder height, thereby allowing the persons head to project upwardly through theopening provided by the cutout portion 8. The doors 6 may then be closed to completely enclose thechamber. The panels l and the doors 6 are hinged to the body portion of the chamber by any suitable means (not shown) and may, if desired, be provided with suitable latching means.

The innermost surfaces of the walls of the chamber I comprise sheets of heat-conducting metal, preferably aluminum 9 (see Fig. 2) and the sheets on adjacent walls of the chamber will preferably be electrically insulated from each other by such means as insulating strips III, for a purpose to be described later. Electrical resistance elements I I and I2 are adhered or otherwise secured to the rearmost faces of the sheets 9 by a layer of suitable adhesive material I3 which also acts as an electrical insulator between the resistance elements and the sheets 9. A layer of heat insulation I4 and an outermost cover I5 may also be provided. As will be obvious, an electrical current passing through the elements I I and I 2 will have the eifect of heating those elements which will transfer their heat, through the layer I3, to the aluminum or other metal sheet 9. The sheets 9 will spread the heat uniformly throughout their areas from which it will be radiated to the interior of the chamber. It is preferred that the innermost surfaces of the sheets 9 be of a dark color and have a matte surface to facilitate the efficient radiation of the heat therefrom.

Fig. 3 illustrates a modified manner of heating the radiant walls of the chamber. In this form the radiating sheet 9 is backed by a second sheet I6 which may, if desired, be made of the same metal as the sheet 9'.

or channel portions I! and is adhered or otherwise permanently affixed to the outer face of the sheet 9' in the manner shown in Fig. 3. The portions I'I define with the sheet 9 closed conduits I3 through which a suitable fluid heating medium may be circulated to provide heat to the sheets 9. In any event, it is desirable that a layer of heat insulating material I 9 and an outermost cover or retaining member 20 be provided.

It is contemplated that the doors 6 be constructed to provide radiant heat in the same manner as are the walls 3, 4 and 5. The floor- 2 is not usually a heating surface, nor are the panels I, however, either or both of those surfaces may be constructed to radiate heat to the interior of the chamber. l

In some instances it may be desirable to induce internal heat in a body within a chamber in addition to merely heating the surface thereof. Such internal heat will usually assist in producing profuse perspiration especially when coupled with the surface heating contemplated. The therapeutic chamber of the present invention lends itself readily to the production of artificial fever. As described previously, the sheets of metal 9 are preferably electrically insulated from each other whereby opposed sheets 9, such as those at the inner surface of the walls 3 and 4, may have a high frequency electrical potential applied 5 therebetween in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4. In Fig. 4, 22 represents a high frequency generator having conductors 23 connected to a suitable source of electric current. Conductors 24 and 25, connected to the output terminals of the high frequency generator are electrically connected to the sheets 9 on opposed walls 3 and 4, of the chamber. When the high frequency generator is in operation, the electrical field between the plates 9 is of such a character that it will induce internal heat in any body placed therebetween The sheet I6 is formed with a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs all in a well-known manner which need not be further described. The high frequency generator 22 may be attached to the side of the chamber, as shown in Fig. l, and it is contemplated that suitable control means 26 and indicators 21 be provided whereby an operator may control the operation of the high frequency generator and/or electrical resistance elements, if such be employed. The high frequency generator may be connected to opposed plates that are heated by the fluid heating medium or the electrical resistance elements described above or may be connected to plates having no other heating function.

In instances where high frequency heating is employed in conjunction with radiant heat supplied by the resistance elements II and I2, the electrical conductors adjacent the terminals of the resistance elements will be provided with suitable radio-frequency chokes to maintain the resistance elements at the same radio-frequency potential as the plates 9.

The interior reflecting surface of the aluminum sheets 9 or 9' will also reflect heat radiated by a body in the chamber. A living body, having a normal temperature of 98.6 F. will continually radiate heat in all directions and that heat will be reflected by the aluminum walls back to the body. In addition, the reflecting interior surfaces will receive some heat radiated by opposed and adjacent walls and that heat too will be reflected back into the chamber for absorption by the body therein.

Although a limited number of embodiments have been shown and described, it is to be understood that further modifications may be resorted to, within the scope. of the invention as defined by the appended claim.

I claim:

A therapeutic chamber comprising a box-like structure having movable closure means, each of at least two opposed walls of said structure comprising a sheet of metal at the inner surface thereof and having an inner surface exposed to the exterior of the chamber, said inner sheet surfaces being both heat radiating and heat reflective, said sheets of metal being electrically insulated from one another, means connected to said sheets for applying a high frequency alternating electrical potential between said sheets of metal whereby to internally heat a body in said chamber between said sheets of metal, electrical heating elements and electrical insulation on said heating elements and in direct contact with the outer surfaces of said sheets of metal, whereby said heating elements are arranged in direct heat conducting relation to at least one of said sheets of metal but electrically insulated therefrom.

JULIAN L. REYNOLDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the e, h s patenw UNITED- sre'rgs PATENTS Number Name. Date 162,091 Moliere Apr. 13, 1875 1,583,420 Picard May 4, 1926 1,807,105 Schliephake May 26, 1931 2,008,653 Braselton July 16, 1935 2,098,295 Kettering Nov. 9, 1937 2,184,644 Homberger Dec. 26, 1939 

